Reduced increase of calcium scores using breath-hold in left-sided whole breast irradiation

Radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer is associated with an increased risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) which is proportional to the mean dose to the heart [1,2]. This counts for younger breast cancers survivors as well [3]. When patients also received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy an even higher increased risk of heart disease was observed [4]. Apart from that, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most important cause of death in women [5]. Finally, it appears that the death rate due to breast cancer decreases around time of menopause whereas the age-specific CVD death rate increases steadily across the lifespan [6].

Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology - May 10, 2020 Category: Radiology Authors: M.E. Mast, J.F. Pekelharing, M.W. Heijenbrok, D. van Klaveren, M.L. van Kempen-Harteveld, A.L. Petoukhova, A. Verbeek-de Kanter, J.H.M. Schreur, H. Struikmans Tags: Original Article Source Type: research